1993 Ford Taurus Complaint Log

HEAD GASKETS FAILED REQUIRING ENGINE REPAIR TO INCLUDE HEAD GASKETS AND VALVE COVER GASKETS AS WELL AS COOLING SYSTEM FLUSH AND TUNE-UP. FORD STATES NO PROGRAM FOR ASSISTANCE THOUGH ON 94-95 MODELS A RECALL PROGRAM IS OFFERED.

DEALERSHIP REFUSES TO REPLACE PROBLEM WHINSHIED WHIPER SWICH..SAYS IT'S WEAR AND TEAR... NOW HOW OFTEN DO YOU USE YOUR WINSHIELD WIPER SWICH ENOUGH TO WEAR IT OUT WITH LESS THAN 50,00 MILES? GOD HELP US.. IF THAT IS THE CASE.

HEAD GASKET FAILED CAUSING COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE, RECALL COMPONENT ON OTHER MODEL YEARS HOWEVER VEHICLE DENIED DUE TO YEAR.

VEHICLE STARTED OVERHEATING. MECHANIC STATES THE HEAD GASKETS ARE DEFECTIVE. VEHICLE BEING REPAIRED AT OWNERS EXPENSE. *AK

EXPERIENCING MULTIPLE SHORTS, DAMAGING SEVERAL COMPONENTS DUE TO BURNING WIRES. *YC

ENGINE HEAD GASKET BLEW AT 78,000. OUR MECHANIC TOLD US THIS SEEMS TO BE A CHRONIC PROBLEM ON 1993 AND 1994 3.8 L FORD TAURUS ENGINES. SEVERAL PEOPLE WE KNOW HAVE STATED THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH THIS ENGINE. THIS LEADS US TO BELIEVE THIS IS A DESIGN DEFECT. WHEN WE CONTACTED FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE, WE WERE INFORMED NO RECALL OR EXTENDED SERVICE IS AVAIALABLE TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM EVENTHOUGH THEY SAID IT IS NOT UNCOMMON. FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE STAFF DID TELL US IT IS UNUSUAL FOR A HEAD GASKET TO GO AT 78,000. FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE STAFF ALSO TOLD US THEIR EXTENDED WARRANTY PROGRAM OF 5 YEARS OR 60,000 MILES ONLY APPLIES TO 1995 VERSIONS OF THE 3.8 L ENGINE. OUR SECOND PROBLEM IS THAT OF THE RACK AND PINION. THE FRONT OF END OF THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD MANY PROBLEMS IN THE LAST TWO YEARS. THE FRONT COIL SPRINGS BROKE AND WERE EVENTUALLY COVERED UNDER A RECALL. HOWEVER, WE HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE FRONT STRUTS, BALL JOINTS, TIE ROD ENDS, AND RACK AND PINION ON SEPERATE OCCASSIONS THROUGH 1998 (THE VEHICLE HAD ROUGHLY 65,000 MILES AT THIS TIME). WHILE WE WERE IN FOR THE LAST RECALL ON THE VEHICLE, THE FORD SERVICE DEPARTMENT ALSO TOLD US OUR ENGINE MOUNTS WERE RUSTING OUT AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. IT APPEARS THAT THE 1993 FORD TAURUS HAS A PROBLEM WITH THE DURABILITY OF THE FRONT END COMPONTS. *AK

WHILE PROCEEDING AT 55 MPH, MY CAR SUDDENLY VIBRATED SO VIOLENTLY THAT IT WAS DIFFICULT TO CONTROL AND KEEP WITHIN THE LANE. I IMMEDIATELY REDUCED SPEED AND PROCEEDED TO MY MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THE HEAD GASKET FAILURE. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR THIS VEHICLE.

THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE CAR TURNS OFF WHILE WE ARE DRIVING. IT HAS OCCURRED AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS,BUT IT HAPPENS MORE FREQUENTLY WHEN WE ARE DRIVING AT 65-70 WITH THE AIR CONDITIONER RUNNING. WITH NO WARNING, THE CAR ENGINE COMPLETELY STOPS. NO ONE HAS BEEN ABLE TO TELL US WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. WE HAVE TO OPEN THE HOOD AND LET THE ENGINE COOL DOWN AND THEN DRIVE WITH THE HOOD OPEN A LITTLE. (I NOTICE A LOT OF TAURUS WITH THEIR HOODS OPEN ALSO) , AFTER THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT COOLS, THE CAR WILL START WITH NO PROBLEM AND CONTINUE UNTIL THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT HEATS UP AGAIN. THE ENGINE IS NOT OVERHEATING, THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT IS. IT APPEARS THAT SOMETHING IS OVERHEATING AND TURNING OFF THE ENGINE. MY HUSBAND AND I HAVE BOTH REPORTED SEPARATELY TO FORD ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE DESCRIPTION OF THE RECALL IN CALIFORNIA SOUNDS JUST LIKE OUR PROBLEM. WE HAVE TOLD FORD THAT THIS IS A DANGEROUS PROBLEM, BUT THEY JUST ENTER THE REPORT--SUPPOSEDLY. LAST WEEK WE HAD TO PULL UP OVER A CURB ONTO GRASS TO GET OUT OF THE WAY OF TRAFFIC. TODAY, I PULLED OUT OF A PARKING LOT ONTO THE HIGHWAY, AND THE CAR STOPPED IN FRONT OF TRAFFIC WHICH LUCKILY WAS FAR ENOUGH AWAY TO SEE MY PROBLEM. I HAD TO COAST TO THE NEXT DRIVE IN ORDER TO EXIT THE HIGHWAY. I HOPE THIS PROBLEM WILL BE LOOKED INTO AND RESOLVED BECAUSE IT IS A DEFINITE DEFECT AND HAZARD.

DURING A RECENT SEVERE RAIN STORM, MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED WHEN I INCREASED THE SPEED FROM NORMAL TO FAST. I GOT THEM TO WORK BY TURNING BACK TO NORMAL AND UP TO FAST THE SECOND TIME. IN ADDITION, WHEN I ACTIVATED THE TURN SIGNALS, THE WIPERS STOPPED FUNCTIONING. I WAS TOTALLY WITHOUT SIGHT ON A BUSY SIX LANE CITY STREET IN A LOT OF TRAFFIC. I HAD NOTICED MY WINDSHIELD WASHER DIDN'T WORK, BUT I THOUGHT IT WAS A MOTOR PROBLEM. I WIRED THE MOTOR DIRECTLY TO THE BATTERY AND IT WORKED FINE. I CALLED A LOCAL DEALER TO SEE IF THERE HAD BEEN A SAFETY RECALL SINCE I HAD BOUGHT THE CAR FROM A PRIVATE OWNER AND MIGHT NOT GET ALL THE NOTIFICATIONS. HE SAID NO, BUT WHEN I DESCRIBED THE PROBLEM TO THE SERVICE TECH AND ASKED FOR ADVICE, HE SAID IT WAS COMMON THAT WIRES GET DAMAGED IN THE STEERING COLUMN AND THE LEVER NEEDS TO BE REPLACED FOR ABOUT $160. HE DIDN'T HESITATE TO RECOMMEND A SOLUTION AND THAT INDICATES TO ME IT ISN'T AN ISOLATED INCIDENT. I THEN CALLED AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHO HAS WORKED ON MY FORD PRODUCTS IN THE RECENT PAST. HE KNEW ABOUT THE WIPER CONTROLS AND WIRING PROBLEM. I ASKED HIM IF THIS WAS A PROBLEM WITH TAURUS' AND HE SAID YES AMONG OTHER THINGS. I WILL PROBABLY HAVE TO HAVE THIS FIXED BEFORE A RECALL CAN BE EFFECTED, BUT I THOUGHT THIS IS SERIOUS AND LIKELY COMMON ENOUGH TO BRING IT TO YOUR ATTENTION. IF I CAN WAIT, I WILL BECAUSE THE ESTIMATE TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM RANGES FROM $160-$300 AND I THINK THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD COVER THIS DESIGN OR ASSEMBLY PROBLEM. I APPRECIATE YOUR LOOKING INTO THIS PROBLEM FOR THE OTHER 1993 TAURUS OWNERS.

THE 1994 AND 1995 TAURUS AND SABLE HAVE BEEN CITED FOR HEAD GASKET FAILURES. I HAVE KNOWLEDGE OF OTHERS WHO HAVE REALIZED SIMILAR FAILURES OF THEIR 1993 VEHICLE HEAD GASKETS. I FEEL THAT THESE FAILURES REPRESENT A SIGNIFICANT DESIGN FLAW AND A THREAT TO VEHICLE SAFETY. OBVIOUSLY I HAVE HAD REPAIRS MADE TO THESE COMPONENTS. I FEEL THE MANUFACTURER MUST BE COMPELLED TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY, BOTH LEGAL AND FINANCIAL, FOR THIS DESIGN FLAW. PLEASE TAKE ACTION TO ENSURE FORD EMBRACES THEIR RESPONSIBILITY IN THIS MATTER. THANKS. GF

WHEN DRIVING AND MAKING ANY TURN THERE IS A CLICKING SOUND COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER STATES THE SOUND IS BACK AGAIN, AND DEALER CAN'T DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. *AK *ML

THE REAR BRAKES WOULD LOCK UP OR FREEZE WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED. WOULD NOT UNLOCK. HAD BRAKES REPAIRED AT LEAST 3 DIFFERENT TIMES FOR LOCKING UP. *AK

TRANSMISSION FAILED TO OPERATE PROPERLY WITHOUT WARNING. DEALER NOTIFIED AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS NOT ON A RECALL. THE COST WOULD GO TO CONSUMER IF REPAIRED. *AK.

WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR RUNS SLOW ON HIGH SPEED AND MAKES A CLICKING NOISE.

TRAVELING 10MPH & MADE A RIGHT TURN. HEARD A CLUNK NOISE. VEHICLE STEERING LOCKED UP. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER. NOTICED BODY MOUNTS HAD WORN OUT & ENGINE HAD DROPPED DOWN. RECALL 93V106002. RECALL REPAIRS COMPLETED. *AK

WHILE TRAVELING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE WILL HESITATE LIKE IT WANTS TO SWITCH GEARS. ALSO, SURGES FORWARD. TOOK TO VEHICLE PERSONAL MECHANIC. HE CLEANED CONNECTIONS, AND VEHICLE RAN FINE FOR YEAR. CURRENTLY, PROBLEM IS HAPPENING AGAIN. *AK

WHEN ACCELERATING THERE IS MOVEMENT FROM THE ENGINE. THE ENGINE MOUNTS WERE REPLACED UNDER RECALL # 93V1060002 IN 1995 WITH 56,000 MILES. THE DEALER/MANUFACTURER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN CORRECTED.

WHILE DRIVING AND APPLYING THE BRAKES, THERE IS A NOISE WHICH IMPLIES THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKING SYSTEM. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

THE CONSUMER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH FUEL TANK PUMP. WHEN CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE, THE MECHANIC NOTICED THAT FUEL PUMP WAS COMPLETELY BURNED OUT. THIS IS THE SECOND FUEL TANK PUMP THAT HAS BEEN REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER HAS YET TO BE CONTACTED. *AK *SLC

WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND HEARD A RUMBLING NOISE AND PULLED OVER, SAW SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. A FIRE FIGHTER WAS DRIVING BY AND PULLED OVER AND PUT THE FIRE OUT. CAN'T DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. *AK

EA99023; WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK INTERMITTENTLY, CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY IN BAD WEATHER CONDITIONS. DEALER CORRECTED PROBLEM. *YC

NO SUMMARY

THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR FRONT COIL SPRINGS. HOWEVER, THE DEALER REFUSED TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE UNLESS THE CONSUMER WAS EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH COIL SPRINGS. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED AND THE ANTI-FREEZE LEAKED FROM THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. *AK

STARTER FAILED. NLM

ENGINE HEAD GASKET BLEW OUT. BELIEVED THIS VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM AS THE VEHICLES THAT WERE RECALLED IN 1994 & 1995. DEALER/ MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED, AND NO INFORMED CONSUMER THAT HER VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER THE RECALL. *AK

WE NOTICED THE ENGINE SEEMED TO SHAKE EXCESSIVELY. WE TOOK THE CAR TO THE LOCAL FORD DEALER (COX FORD, HAMPSTEAD, MD). THEY INFORMED US THAT OUR PROBLEM WAS TWOFOLD. FIRST THEY SAID THE HEAD GASKET WAS LEAKING, AND THAT THE MOTOR MOUNTS WERE DETERIORATED. AFTER DOING SOME EXTENSIVE RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET AND WITH PHONE CONVERSATIONS WITH FORD MOTOR COMPANY, WE LEARNED THAT THERE WAS A SAFETY RECALL ON THE MOTOR MOUNTS (REF: TSB #92M77 JUN 95). INITIALLY THE FORD CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CLERK INDICATED THAT THIS WORK WOULD BE PERFORMED WITH NO PROBLEM. AFTER SEVERAL HOURS, WE WERE NOTIFIED BY ANOTHER FORD CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CLERK THAT THIS PARTICULAR RECALL WAS SUBJECT TO A 60,000 MILE LIMITATION (THIS WAS NOT INDICATED ON THE INTERNET SITE OR BY THE FIRST CLERK). FURTHER MORE, DISCUSSIONS WITH A SERVICE MANAGER FROM ANOTHER LOCAL FORD DEALER HAD INDICATED THAT FORD HAS HAD A LOT OF PRE-MATURE FAILURES WITH THE 3.8L HEAD GASKETS AND THAT THERE WAS A SLIGHT POSSIBILITY THAT THE EXCESSIVE SHOCK AND VIBRATIONS FROM THE BROKEN MOTOR MOUNT COULD HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE HEAD GASKET FAILURE. ESTIMATED REPAIRS FOR THIS PRE-MATURE FAILURE IS GOING TO COST ME AS MUCH AS $2000.00 ON A VEHICLE LESS THAN 5 YEARS OLD. ANY INFORMATION OR ASSISTANCE IN THIS MATTER WOULD BE APPRECIATED.

UNBRELLA CAME IN CONTACT WITH UNPROTECTED POWER SEAT WIRING CAUSING FIRE.

WHEN VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN IT WOULD VIBRATE. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD COME ON & STAY. TOOK TO MECHANIC & TOLD MOTOR MOUNTS HAD SNAPPED & THE TIE RODS WERE DAMAGED AND THEY NEEDED REPLACING. *AK

FRONT MOTOR MOUNTS CANNOT WITHSTAND SUDDEN ACCELERATION, AND IF SO, THEY WILL BREAK, ALLOWING MOTOR TO TILT AND HIT THE FIREWALL. *AK

HAD NOTIFIED DEALERSHIP OF NOTICE OF RECALL. WAS TOLD HAD NOT PARTS AVAILABLE FOR FRONT COIL SPRINGS & DID NOT KNOW WHEN THEY WOULD BE AVAILABLE. *AK

WINDSHIELD WIPERS MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING VISIBILITY PROBLEMS AND MAY RESULT A CRASH. COMMON PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION AND VIN#. *AK

CONSUMER REPLACED HEADLIGHT SWITCH, AND REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT FROM DEALER. DEALER REFUSED BECAUSE VEHICLE'S VIN NUMBER DID NOT MATCH MANUFACTURER'S NHSTA RECALL 98V-009. ALSO DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE'S VIN DOES NOT COME UNDER MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 98S-01. *AK

WHEN DRIVING AND MAKING A TURN TO THE RIGHT OR MAKING A TURN TO THE LEFT, THERE IS A LOUD POPPING SOUND COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE WHENEVER CONSUMER MAKES A TURN. *AK

NO SUMMARY

WHEN WINDSHIELD WIPERS ARE ON REGULARLY, THEY ARE FINE. BUT, WHEN ON INTERMITTENT,THEY DO NOT WORK . *AK

ENGINE HEAD GASKET LEAKED PRIOR TO RECALL, RECALL REPAIRS REFUSED DUE TO AGE OF VEHICLE. *AK

INITIAL FAILURE OF MOTOR MOUNT WAS IN THE FALL OF 1998 . THE MOUNT FAILED AGAIN IN JULY OF 1999. THE SAME PART HAS FAILED AGAIN AS OF AUGUST 18,1999. THIS IS 3 FAILURES OF THE MOTOR MOUNTS IN 10 MONTHS. THE MECHANICS WHO HAVE DONE THE REPAIR WORK HAVE STATED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WIITH THIS MODEL OF FORD TAURUS YEAR 1993. IF THE PROBLEM IS UNCORRECTED THE MECHANICS WHO WORKED ON THE VEHICLE STATED ENGINE COULD DROP AND SEVERE THE STEERING OF THE CAR. THIS FAILURE SHOULD NOT HAVE OCCURED IN THE FIRST PLACE LET ALONE 3 TIMES!!!!! THIS COMPLAINT SHOULD BE LOOKED INTO BY THE NHTSA AS IT IS VERY COSTLY TO REPAIR AND CAN BE A MAJOR HAZZARD IN THE OPERATION OF THE MOTOR VEHICLE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION OF THIS MATTER.

THE DIFFERENTIAL BLEW UP AND BENT THE AXLE. *AK

HAD RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE (#93V106000) IN THE MAIL. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR REPAIRS ON FEB. 2, 1998. THE RECALL REMEDY FAILED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING SPARKS APPEARED , VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. *AK

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE WILL SUDDENLY SHUT DOWN. PLEASEA PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *MR

WHILE DRVING CONSUMER NOTICED TEMPERATURE GUAGE WAS GOING FROM HOT TO COLD. CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT BOTH REAR HEAD GASKETS HAD BLOWN ON THE ENGINE. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

TRANSMISSION / HEAD GASKET FAILURE.

THE REAR DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEATBELT BUCKLES DO NOT BUCKLE AT ALL, , WHICH WILL NOT PROTECT THE OCCUPANT IN EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

CONSUMER HAS RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER IN JULY FOR THE FRONT COIL SPRINGS, RECALL# 98I002000. AFTER DELAY, RECALL WAS COMPLETED. CURRENT PROBLEM WITH WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR. *AK *ML

THE DEFECTIVE HEAD GASKET BURNT OUT, CAUSING THE ENGINE TO OVERHEAT AND ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

ENGINE OVERHEATED DUE TO FAILURE OF THE HEAD GASKETS.

WHEN AN ELDERLY WOMAN SAT ON THE SEAT, HER UPPER LEG HIT THE HARD PLASTIC COVER OF THE CORNER BRACE, WHICH BROKE HER UPPER LEG BONE JUST BELOW THE BALL.